Why on earth would you trade Maatta when you have Gudbranson and Johnson
- BINGO!

You're funny, you. I don't want to trade Maatta. It's just pretty much a foregone conclusion that he's the most likely Penguin getting shipped out. Next would be Kessel, but I don't 100% think that's happening.

I don’t think it’s realistic either, I’m just laying out the best course of action. What I think will happen is that Maatta will be moved for a top 9 forward to “replace” Kessel who they’ll move for the next Jarred McCann type young player that JR is infatuated with and call it a day. There’ll be a big press offensive to bill it as moves that have finally given the team the identity Rutherford has been looking for. We’ll limp into the playoffs as a second wild card and be a first round exit.
- Victoro311

I like that you think the Pens will make it to the playoffs next year if all that happens.

Eck already saying that Malkin wants to be the man and is willing to be traded. That didn’t take long

This would be my base to build off of...

Jake-Sid-Athanasiou
Helm-Geno-Kessel
McCann-Bjugstad-Abdelkader
Simon-Bleuger-Glendening

Dumo/Letang
Dekeyser/Schultz
Pettersson/Gudbranson (I like these guys, but not locked into them)

Murray/DeSmith

Take whatever parts are not there and use them to get their younger Kunitz', Hagelins, etc...
- Rinosaur

There you go.

Eck already saying that Malkin wants to be the man and is willing to be traded. That didn’t take long
- bchiaro

Maybe Maloneys can pick him up?

There you go.
- Feds91Stammer

LOL Well, there's only one player there you know I'd want. How about Hornqvist the AA straight up?

Eck already saying that Malkin wants to be the man and is willing to be traded. That didn’t take long
- bchiaro

LOL yeah E3.......Heres a thought, isn't Planarian linked to FLA? FLA signed Planarian trades for Malkin?

Eck already saying that Malkin wants to be the man and is willing to be traded. That didn’t take long
- bchiaro

It's easy for him to do it that quick. He just cuts-and-pastes last year's post.

I like that you think the Pens will make it to the playoffs next year if all that happens.
- Rinosaur

We’ll be a bubble team for sure. Playoffs wouldn’t be guaranteed. This would be my road map:

Cap dump Hornqvist. If we get something of value cool, if not oh well. Great Penguin, but it’s time to move on.

Exchanging Maatta for a top 9 forward that actually will replace Hornqvist unlike Kessel.

Trade Murray for a Maatta replacement that fits the system better.

Sign Mrazek.

Everyone get over themselves and scratch Johnson who we’re stuck with.

I think that would be a pretty effective retool that can hold the fort down until we have to deal with losing Schultz after next season.

LOL Well, there's only one player there you know I'd want. How about Hornqvist the AA straight up?
- Rinosaur

Dunno Chicago would probably give you Anisimov.

Dunno Chicago would probably give you Anisimov.
- Feds91Stammer

If we didn't already have Bjugstad? Maybe lol

If you want to make a splash and get the best return, I think the Pens have to trade Letang. I know that is sacrilege to some, but I truly feel that he's their best asset that will get the best return. Some team will definitely overpay for him. He's a 3-time Stanley Cup winning, goal scoring defenseman. Of course they will. At least dangle him in front of some teams and see what they offer.

I'm not advocating blowing up the team, but they have to change something. Letang has value and he's often hurt. I wouldn't be heart broken if he was traded and they got quality players & picks in return. Will they? Most likely not. Same goes for Murray. He'll probably get some ungodly extension. GMJR is due for a questionable extension that handcuffs the team even further.

I honestly have no idea what this team is going to do. Cullen, Wilson, and Ruhwedel are the only UFA's. They're as good as gone. The rest are all locked in for a year or two, or even longer. So what can GMJR do? He won't buyout JJ, we all know that. He'll probably do something stupid like trading Kessel or Rust. I have zero faith in Rutherford's abilities.

If you want to make a splash and get the best return, I think the Pens have to trade Letang. I know that is sacrilege to some, but I truly feel that he's their best asset that will get the best return. Some team will definitely overpay for him. He's a 3-time Stanley Cup winning, goal scoring defenseman. Of course they will. At least dangle him in front of some teams and see what they offer.

I'm not advocating blowing up the team, but they have to change something. Letang has value and he's often hurt. I wouldn't be heart broken if he was traded and they got quality players & picks in return. Will they? Most likely not. Same goes for Murray. He'll probably get some ungodly extension. GMJR is due for a questionable extension that handcuffs the team even further.

I honestly have no idea what this team is going to do. Cullen, Wilson, and Ruhwedel are the only UFA's. They're as good as gone. The rest are all locked in for a year or two, or even longer. So what can GMJR do? He won't buyout JJ, we all know that. He'll probably do something stupid like trading Kessel or Rust. I have zero faith in Rutherford's abilities.
- simethos

Ok, so our biggest problem this year is that our blue line sucked and couldn’t facilitate offense well, so the answer is shipping out Letang?

The Penguins don’t need to make “a splash”. We have all the high end talent we need to be contenders. What we need to do is uncuff ourselves from a suboptimal supporting cast, which, granted, is easier said than done, but going the other rout and trading a star for more supporting cast only makes our current problems worse.

Ok, so our biggest problem this year is that our blue line sucked and couldn’t facilitate offense well, so the answer is shipping out Letang?

The Penguins don’t need to make “a splash”. We have all the high end talent we need to be contenders. What we need to do is uncuff ourselves from a suboptimal supporting cast, which, granted, is easier said than done, but going the other rout and trading a star for more supporting cast only makes our current problems worse.
- Victoro311

Yep.

Ok, so our biggest problem this year is that our blue line sucked and couldn’t facilitate offense well, so the answer is shipping out Letang?

The Penguins don’t need to make “a splash”. We have all the high end talent we need to be contenders. What we need to do is uncuff ourselves from a suboptimal supporting cast, which, granted, is easier said than done, but going the other rout and trading a star for more supporting cast only makes our current problems worse.
- Victoro311

aka the corpses

aka the corpses
- Feds91Stammer

Do we think Maatta will be one of those corpses traded before next season? And what of the other dismal defensemen: Riikola and Johnson?

Do we think Maatta will be one of those corpses traded before next season? And what of the other dismal defensemen: Riikola and Johnson?
- simethos

I still don't understand why

Do we think Maatta will be one of those corpses traded before next season? And what of the other dismal defensemen: Riikola and Johnson?
- simethos

I think Maatta is a good player, but he’s gone. I wish things were different, but the way Sullivan is deploying him is really hurting the team. If Sully would put him in his appropriate role and glue him to Letang or Schultz, I’d still be dying on Olli Hill, but if he’s going to continue to get poop partners (or scratched like it’s looking like now), he needs to be traded for something useful.

I still don't understand why
- BINGO!

Because Rutherford and Sullivan think Jack Johnson is a good defenseman.

Do we think Maatta will be one of those corpses traded before next season? And what of the other dismal defensemen: Riikola and Johnson?
- simethos

I believe Maatta will be traded based on these three things:

1. Team in a bit of a cap bind.

2. Swept in the playoffs.

3. Scratched 3 times for JMFJ

Because Rutherford and Sullivan think Jack Johnson is a good defenseman.
- Victoro311

It's really sad to see JR wasting all of the goodwill he had developed only a couple years ago with his trade wizardry.

Just retire Cullen you old (frank). He's like a poop that won't flush. Blocking the flow of younger players

Just retire Cullen you old (frank). He's like a poop that won't flush. Blocking the flow of younger players
- Thorny87

Could always just *not* play him.

Could always just *not* play him.
- BINGO!

Or not sign him, but again, we’re not making these decisions.

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